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Chapter 17
Last Updated:
2025-04-03 23:27:05
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I felt a surge of gratitude towards him. No one had ever shown me such kindness and concern before. "I'm fine, Master Zayne," I said, trying to sound brave. "Just a little... overwhelmed."Master Zayne nodded, his eyes locked onto mine. "I know how you feel," he said. "But I want you to know that you're not alone. I'm here for you, Ava."I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at Master Zayne. I had thought the Panja warriors had no emotions in them. This is my first. It was as if he understood me in a way that no one else did."Thank you, Master Zayne," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Master Zayne smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Ava," he said. "Now, let's get out of here. I think you've had enough of this place for one day."I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I closed my book and stood up, brushing off my tattered gown. As I walked with Master Zayne, I felt a sense of freedom that I hadn't felt in a long time. It was as if I had finall
Last Updated : 2025-04-03The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 19
As Zayne continued to talk to Ava, he couldn't shake off the feeling that Rylan's interest in her was more than just casual. He had known Rylan for years, and he knew that the man was ambitious, always looking for ways to advance his own career. But Zayne also knew that Rylan's ambition was not always pure. He had seen Rylan do some questionable things in the past, things that had made Zayne wonder if Rylan's loyalty to the Panja was genuine.As he watched Ava, Zayne realized that he needed to keep a closer eye on her. Not just because of Rylan's interest, but also because of the general's request. Something was not right, and Zayne was determined to find out what it was."Ava, I need to ask you something," Zayne said, his voice low and serious.Ava looked up at him, her eyes curious. "What is it, Master Zayne?" she asked."I need to know if you've noticed anything strange lately," Zayne said, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "Anything that might seem out of place or unusual."
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“Be careful.” The words echoed in his head. There had to be more to this. Someone was trying to keep Ava safe—or perhaps warn her about a threat. Was the note a sign that someone knew what was coming? "Someone knows something," Rylan thought, and it made him feel uneasy. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but there was still so much that didn’t add up.His steps slowed as his thoughts shifted back to Zayne. “What if Zayne was the one who wrote it? No, that’s too obvious. He’s too careless for that. But who else might be watching Ava? And why are they warning her?"The more Rylan thought, the more questions seemed to pile up. He had to get to Ava before Zayne did. It was clear now that Ava was part of something much bigger than he had originally thought. She was involved in something—someone—was trying to protect her, or maybe stop her from discovering something. But what?Rylan’s mind raced, but there was no time to waste. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. “Ava… y
Last Updated : 2025-04-04The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 21
AVA'S POVThe next morning, I hurriedly resumed my duty post at the general's tent. I bowed low, my eyes cast downward, as General Kaelen approached. "Ah, Ava," the general said, his voice warm. "I see you're ready to resume your duties. I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing how you perform." I nodded, my face straight showing no expression, as General Kaelen took his seat. Zayne stood guard beside him, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, ever vigilant.“Did you sleep well?” the general asked suddenly, catching me off guard.I blinked and glanced up briefly before looking away again. “I did, General. Thank you for asking.”He hummed, tapping his fingers lightly on the wooden table. “Good. I wouldn’t want fatigue to affect your performance.”I clenched my fists discreetly and replied, “Understood.”As the day wore on, I proved to be a quick learner, efficiently handling my duties. Zayne stepped out of the tent for a moment, and I became nervous being left alone with the gener
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Ava's POV But as I bent to pick up a discarded cup, I caught sight of General Kaelen standing across the room.Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his sharp golden gaze. It was as if he could see right through me, to the very heart of my being. And then, in a voice that commanded without question, he issued a simple order:"Lift your skirt."My stomach clenched, my heart racing with a mix of fear and adrenaline. I knew what the Entertainers did, how they existed to serve the warriors. But I was not one of them. I was a servant. A worker. And I would not submit like the others.I refused.The room fell silent, the only sound the soft whisper of the Entertainers' shocked gasps. No one refused Kaelen. No woman had ever dared to deny him what he asked. The Entertainers exchanged horrified glances, their faces pale with fear.Mistress Elara, the woman who managed the Entertainers, stepped forward, her voice low and urgent. "Ava, stay away from
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Ava's POV As the room began to stir back to life, Mistress Elara grasped my arm, her grip tight. "You fool," she whispered. "You don't know what you've just done."I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. "I didn't do anything ," I protested.Mistress Elara's eyes narrowed. "You refused the General," she said. "You don't know what that means."I felt a shiver run down my spine. I had never intended to defy Kaelen. I had simply reacted on instinct, refusing to submit to his demands. But now, I wasn't so sure. Have I just made a terrible mistake?As I looked around the room, I saw the Entertainers watching me, their faces filled with a mix of fear and curiosity. I knew that I had just crossed a line, one that I couldn't uncross. And I wondered what the consequences would be.Kaelen's words echoed in my mind, his voice low and commanding. "Lift your skirt." I felt a shiver run down my spine. I had refused him, but I knew that I couldn't refuse him forever. The question was, what w
Last Updated : 2025-04-05The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 24
Ava's POVI thought that refusing General Kaelen would be the end of it. I expected anger, maybe even punishment, but instead, he did something far worse—he refused to let the matter drop. At first, his interest was subtle. A glance in my direction when I entered a room. A lingering gaze when I worked. But as the days passed, his attention became more deliberate. He ensured I was always in his line of sight, his presence a constant, oppressive force. I began to feel like I was living in a fishbowl, with Kaelen's eyes always on me.He started testing me, pushing me to my limits. My tasks became harder, more grueling. I was assigned to haul heavy water barrels, scrub the filth from warrior tents, and endure long hours with little rest. It wasn't an outright punishment, but it was clear that Kaelen wanted to see if I would break. If I would yield to the pressure."You're a hard worker, Ava," Kaelen said one day, as I was hauling a heavy water barrel across the camp. "I'll give you that."
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Ava's POV And Kaelen, despite himself, found that he was beginning to admire me for this. He had expected me to break, to crumble under the pressure. But instead, I had risen to the challenge, my spirit unbroken."You're a fascinating woman, Ava," he said one day, as I was scrubbing the filth from a warrior's tent. "I've never met anyone like you."I looked up, my eyes narrowing. "What do you want from me, General?" I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow, trying to focus on the task at hand.Kaelen smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I want to break you," he said, his voice low and steady. "I want to see you yield.""I'll never yield," I said, my voice steady and unwavering as I turned back to my work.Kaelen laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice holding a note of challenge. "You're not the first to try and stand against me, Ava. But you're certainly the most stubborn."The words stung, but I didn’t let him see that. I kept scrubbin
Last Updated : 2025-04-06
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The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 92: The Breaking Point
Kaelen’s POVThe tea was warm on my tongue, bitter with herbs I couldn't name—but Zylan’s steady gaze kept me grounded. I didn’t pull away when he guided the flask back to my lips, nor when he pressed a cloth to the split skin on my knuckles. The silence between us wasn’t heavy this time. It was patient. Watchful. Safe.“You’re going to have to let me take over for a while,” Zylan said, not as a suggestion. He knelt beside me, close enough for his voice to be soft, but not smothering. “Until you can stand without shaking.”“I’m fine,” I started.“Don’t lie to me, Kaelen.” His tone didn’t rise, but it struck harder than a blade. “You’re not. And you haven’t been for days.”I looked away, jaw clenched. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”“I do.” Zylan stood, brushing dust from his knees. “You’re burning out. Your body’s cannibalizing itself because you’ve pushed past every warning sign.”I hated how much truth there was in that. I’d ignored the hunger, the fatigue, the dizziness—becaus
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“The soldiers. Quiet. Restless. More fights breaking out. One even collapsed during a sparring match, said his limbs just gave out.”Kaelen sat up straighter despite the ache in his spine. “So it’s not just me.”“No. But it’s stronger in you. Which makes me think this isn’t just sickness. Something’s targeting you.”He didn’t flinch. “You think it’s Ava?”The name cut through the air like steel.I watched him closely. “I think… whatever tether you formed with her, it’s still active. Even at a distance.”“However, I think it’s the accusations laid on you that affect you the most. And you have to be strong and go after what you want. If you love Ava, fight for it—irrespective of the culture of our land.”He went still.I leaned forward, voice low. “Kaelen… when did this start?”His lips parted, but no words came. Then he closed his eyes. “A few days after she stopped showing up in the kitchens. After that last night. The one I thought was our—”He stopped himself. Looked away.“She’s co
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 90: The Breach Between Us
Zylan’s POVThe moment I saw Kaelen slump against that boulder like a wounded animal, something inside me snapped.He looked wrong. His proud posture was gone, traded for a haunted tilt of the shoulders. Shadows lined his eyes like bruises, his once-imposing presence dulled under the weight of something he wouldn’t name.I’d seen warriors broken by loss, by betrayal, by hunger—but Kaelen? He was breaking from the inside out.“I didn’t want to burden anyone,” he’d muttered, and damn it, that cut deeper than any blade.“You’re not a burden,” I said again, this time more to convince him than myself.He didn’t answer. Just stared at the dirt like it held the answers he was too afraid to ask for.______________I handed him the flask. “It’s laced with herbs to ease your stomach. Sip slowly.”He did. His hand trembled around the metal. I made a mental note of it but said nothing. Not yet.A breeze swept through the clearing, and the firelight flickered across his cheekbones—too sharp, too s
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 89
Ava POV When I finished, he nodded thoughtfully. "I see," he said. "It seems like the General is not the only one being persecuted around here."I felt a surge of gratitude toward him. Finally, someone who understood me. "What brings you here, Master?" I asked, trying to change the subject.Zylan smiled wryly. "I'm here to check on you and to ask you a favor, actually.""A favor?" I tilted my head. "What's the matter? Is the General okay?" My voice trembled slightly, the fear too quick to rise.Zylan's eyes softened as he shook his head, the corners of his mouth drawn down. "No, I must say. He's been... indisposed lately."My eyes widened in concern. "What do you mean by 'indisposed'? Has he been injured? Is he sick?""It's hard to explain," Zylan replied, running a hand through his hair. "At first, we thought it was fatigue. The General rarely rests, as you know. But now… his condition is more troubling than that."I took a hesitant step closer. "Troubling how? Has he spoken to anyo
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 88
Ava's POV I stood frozen, mop in hand, as Mistress Elara approached me. Her eyes seemed to bore into my very soul, and I could sense a palpable tension in the air. "I see Sora took you in," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "What exactly is your agenda, servant?" I felt a surge of confusion and defensiveness. What was she talking about? I was just doing my job, trying to survive in this chaotic world. "I...I don't know what you mean, Mistress," I stammered.Mistress Elara's expression turned even darker, and she took a step closer to me. I could feel her anger radiating toward me, and I instinctively took a step back. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" she spat. "But I see right through you. You're just a troublemaker, and I won't have you causing problems here."“I’m not trying to cause anything,” I whispered, gripping the mop tighter. “I clean, I follow orders—I haven’t done anything wrong.”"Exactly," she hissed. "You pretend to be meek. But I know your type. Al
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 87
As we sat together, Zylan asked me questions about my symptoms, listening intently as I described my fatigue, lack of appetite, and general malaise. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I talked, knowing that Zylan was listening and trying to help.“How long has this been going on?” Zylan asked softly, his brows furrowed in concern.I sighed, running a shaky hand through my hair. “A while. Weeks, maybe. It started small—skipping meals, sleepless nights. I thought it would pass. I thought I could handle it.”He reached out, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been carrying too much, Kaelen. You don’t have to do everything alone.”A bitter laugh escaped me. “I’m the General, Zylan. If I don’t hold it together, who will?”“You don’t have to break just to prove you’re strong,” he said quietly. “Strength isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up. And right now, getting help doesn’t make you weak.”I stared at him for a long moment before nodding. “You sound like on
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 86
Zylan's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep concern."General, let me help you," he said, his voice soft. "Whatever is going on, we'll figure it out together."I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone in this after all. Maybe Zylan could help me find a way out of this darkness.With a newfound sense of hope, I nodded, my eyes meeting Zylan's."Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what's wrong with me."Zylan's expression was gentle."We'll find out," he said. "Together."Zylan's words were a balm to my frazzled nerves. I felt a sense of gratitude towards my friend, who had always been there for me in times of need. As Zylan approached me, I noticed that he was carrying a small satchel."I brought some food and medicine," Zylan said, his eyes scanning my gaunt face. "Let's get you fed and rested, and then we'll figure out what's going on."I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. I knew that I couldn't keep goin
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 85
General Kaelen's POVI stood atop the mountain, my eyes fixed on the horizon as the sun began to set. I had been training alone for what felt like an eternity, pushing myself to my limits every day. The isolation was suffocating at times, but I welcomed it. It was a reminder that I was still alive, still fighting.As I trained, I couldn't help but think of Zylan. My friend and confidant had been visiting me regularly, engaging in combat sessions that helped keep my skills sharp. But for the past few days, Zylan hadn't shown up. I was not sure what to make of it. Was Zylan busy with other matters, or was something wrong?I hurled my wooden spear at the tree trunk and watched it strike with a dull thud."Where the hell are you, Zylan?" I muttered under my breath, picking up another spear."Maybe he's just giving you space. You’ve been snapping at him a lot lately."I exhaled sharply and wiped the sweat from my brow. “That’s no excuse. He would’ve told me. He always tells me.”I lunged f
The Forbidden Gaze Chapter 84
"What's the situation with the Council?" I asked, changing the subject.Zylan's expression turned grim. "It's not looking good, General. They're investigating your conduct, and there are rumors of... impropriety. If they're not careful, it could escalate into a full-blown scandal."I cursed under my breath, feeling a sense of frustration. I knew that the Council was looking for a way to bring me down, to strip me of my power and influence. And with Ava by my side, it seemed like they had the perfect ammunition.“They’ve been waiting for this,” I muttered, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “One misstep, and they pounce like vultures.”"You’ve always had enemies among them,” Zylan said carefully. “But this time… it’s different. They’re not just whispering behind closed doors. They’re gathering support.”"Because of Ava?" I asked, already knowing the answer.Zylan hesitated, then gave a slow nod. “Yes. They see her as a weakness, a liability. They think she’s distracting you. And worse… the
